The government has allocated Rs 1,39,579 crore for the next phase of Bharat Net to extend connectivity to remote areas of the country, according to a report by Prasar Bharati. With this, Bharat Net will reach 6.40 lakh villages across the country within the next two years, up from the current 1.94 lakh connected villages.
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Bharat Net project
According to multiple reports, the Communication Ministry stated that the extension project was decided after the success of a pilot project in four districts. The project was then expanded to 60,000 villages across most of the states in the country within eight months. The Bharat Net project is executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consisting of the Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) merger.
Pilot Project
Approximately 1,700 towers were fiberized during the pilot project, and online training is provided for fibre maintenance and installation. The government covers the project's capital cost, and any damage to the optical fibre triggers an automated message to the network operation centre. The project is expected to generate an estimated 2.50 lakh jobs.
Fibre Broadband Connections
During the pilot project, Bharat Net Fibre completed 3.51 lakh fibre broadband connections, and currently, BSNL is providing 1.3 lakh fibre connections every month. The government believes that a good precedent has been set, and soon Bharat Net Fiber will be launched formally. According to reports, the average rural household consumes 175 GB per month, compared to 230 GB in urban areas.
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Broadband packages start from Rs 399, Rs 599, and Rs 799, offering minimum speeds of 30 Mbps. An online payment mode is available, making the process totally digital.
Built under the Make in India initiative, Bharat Net is one of the world's largest rural broadband connectivity programs, being implemented by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.
